WIN: Many More Young Adults Than Expected Are Signing Up To Stay On Their Parents’ Health Plans

05/10/11

One aspect of the Affordable Health Care Act is drawing many more participants than expected. Jesse Russell reports.

After health care legislation was signed into law the Health and Human Services Department estimated that in 2011 1.2 million young adults would seek extended coverage under their parents’ health plans. 

According to Kaiser Health news the number of individuals under the age of 26 staying on their parents’ plans will likely be much higher than the original estimate. 

Early numbers for this year show that United Healthcare, Blue Shield, Health Care Service Corp., Highmark, Kaiser Permanente, and WellPoint have all added more than 650,000 young adults to their rolls. 

For WellPoint alone the addition made up one-third of the insurers growth during the first quarter of 2011. Adult children under the age of 26, no matter if they live at home or can be declared as dependents, must be allowed to stay on their parents health plans according to the law. 

If the young adult takes a job where their employer offers coverage the parent coverage can be waived. However, nearly 30 percent of those in their 20s are uninsured in the United States. 

Many military and retired militray will be able to cover their children to age 26 under Tricare. The Department of Defense should implement this change soon in Tricare. This should bring hundreds of thousands of military and retired military dependents between 21 and 25 into Tricare. 

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